Outdoor unit of separate type air conditioner

ABSTRACT

A unit of a separate type air conditioner capable of easily preventing water seeping into the power source board installation region is presented. In the rotating direction, a drip board between a fan and a power source installation boar is provided.

This application is a U.S. national phase application of PCTinternational application PCT/JP98/00725.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of a separate type airconditioner to be installed outdoors, and more particularly to anoutdoor unit appropriate to be wired and assembled from above itshousing.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, an outdoor unit of a separate type air conditioner,particularly, an outdoor unit to be installed on the wall immediatelybeneath a window, verandah, stairs or rooftop is reduced in size andweight. In addition, wiring and piping sections are provided in theupper part of the housing and the top of the housing is a detachable topplate, in most cases, for the convenience of wiring or assembling fromabove the unit.

A conventional example of such outdoor unit is shown in FIG. 5, in whichthe inside of a housing 21 is partitioned into a fan compartment P and acompressor compartment Q by means of a soundproof board 31. The fancompartment P accommodates a fan 26, a heat exchanger 28, and othercomponents. The compressor compartment Q accommodates a compressor 29and other components in its lower part, and incorporates a wiringjunction 30 for connecting a refrigerant piping from the indoor unit tothe compressor 29 in its upper part. A wiring 25 for a power sourceconnection is drawn in from the outside of the housing 21 into aninstallation space R so that wiring work can be done from above the unitby making use of the installation space R of the wiring junction 30provided in the upper part of the compressor compartment Q. However,since dew may condense on the wiring junction 30 due to the operation ofthe air conditioner, a power source board 23 is provided in aninstallation space S above the side of the fan compartment P andseparated from the installation space R by a partition wall 24a. Thewiring 25 is connected through a penetration hole 31 provided in thepartition wall 24a. Such wiring work from above the unit is done byopening the upper part of installation spaces R, S by detaching topplate 22 of housing 21. After the wiring work is done, and to preventwater from seeping into the installation space S of the power sourceboard 23, and to prevent rainwater or water made by defrosting operationin the heating mode from seeping through the gap of the penetration hole31 and wiring 25 or into the fan compartment P to deposit on the fan 26,part of the water is scattered forcibly toward the installation regionof the power source board 23 by the rotation of the fan 26. Accordingly,gaps formed in the air passage between a gorge 32 opened upward in theinstallation space S of the power source board 23 and the top plate 22,or in the installation space S are filled and sealed with caulkingmaterial or the like.

In a conventional outdoor unit, however, the wiring 25 drawn into theinstallation space R from outside of the housing 21 must be furtherdrawn into the installation space S through the penetration hole 31, andhence the wire drawing work is not easy. Further, the work of connectingthe wiring 25 drawn into the installation space S to the power sourceboard 23 is not easily accomplished because of the obstacle of thepartition wall 24a between the both installation spaces R, S.

Moreover, gaps formed between the air passage and the installation spaceS vary with the shape and structure of the installation space S. Theshape is complicated between the gorge 32 opened above and top plate 32,and its surface area is relatively wide; the same caulking as above isdifficult, and it takes a long time, plenty of sealing material isrequired, raising job cost.

The invention is devised in the light of the above problems, and it ishence a primary object thereof to present an outdoor unit of separatetype air conditioner capable of easily preventing water seeping into thepower source board installation region, and also to enhance, asrequired, the working efficiency of wiring and assembling from above theunit.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the object, the invention presents an outdoor unit ofseparate type air conditioner comprising a fan provided in a housing,installed outdoors, and a power source board positioned in the upperpart near the fan, in which a drip board is provided across a tangentfrom the fan toward the power source board installation region in therotating direction.

According to the outdoor unit of the separate type air conditioner ofthe invention, if the water seeping into the outdoor unit and depositingon the fan is scattered toward the power source board installationregion by the rotation of the fan, all of water scattering toward thepower source board installation region is on the tangent from the fantoward the power source installation region in the rotating directioncrossed by the drip board provided in the above position condition, andis shut off before reaching the power source board installation region.Therefore, without sealing the air passage between the power sourceboard installation region and the fan after wiring connection, seepingof water into the power source board can be prevented.

When the drip board is formed integrally with the top plate so as todrop from this top plate, the drip board can be installed withoutincreasing the number of parts and the number of assembling steps, andno gap is formed between the drip board and the top plate. Hence,caulking for filling up the gap is not necessary.

The constitution comprises a top plate detachably provided in the upperpart of the housing, a communication port opened upward for passingwiring from inside of the housing adjacent region to the power sourceboard installation region, and a partition board formed integrally withthe top plate so as to drop from the top plate corresponding to thecommunication port and cut off by seeping into the communication portfrom above, in which the partition board has a flexible resin member orrubber member contacting by along the shape of the opposite surfaceprovided at its lower end. In this constitution, when drawing in thewiring into the housing from outside, and connecting it to the powersource board installation region from its adjacent region, it is enoughby laying over both the power source board installation region and theadjacent region and fitting together from above into the communicationport opened upward, and the step of passing through a hole is notnecessary and hence the wiring work efficiency is enhanced. Moreover,after wiring, only by mounting the top plate, the flexible resin memberor rubber member provided at the lower end of the partition board formedintegrally with the top plate is deformed to contact tightly with theopposite surface across the wiring; therefore seepage of water from theadjacent region through the communication port is prevented withoutdoing any particular sealing job, which is very convenient. Still more,when the communication port is set in the full width of the power sourceboard installation region, the partition wall between the two regions iseliminated in the wiring work, and it is more preferable for connectingthe wiring to the power source board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an outdoorunit of a separate type air conditioner of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of an outdoorunit of a separate type air conditioner of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional top view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a prior art.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the inventionare described in detail below.

A first embodiment of an outdoor unit of a separate type air conditionerof the invention is a box-shaped outdoor unit mounted on an outer wall,for example, beneath a window as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The insideof a housing 1 of such outdoor unit is partitioned into a fancompartment A accommodating a fan 6, a heat exchanger 8, and othercomponents, and a compressor compartment B accommodating a compressor 9and other components, as being separated by a soundproof board 11, and adetachable top plate 2 is provided on the upper surface of thehousing 1. A power source board installation region D in the upper partof the fan compartment A incorporates a power source board 3 as ajunction of a wiring 5, a drip board 4 crossing the tangent a from thefan 6 toward the power source board installation region D in therotating direction b of fan 6; A piping connection region C in the upperpart of the compressor compartment B includes a piping junction 10;further in the upper part of the soundproof board 11, there is apenetration hole 13 for passing the wiring 5 to the power source boardinstallation region D from the piping connection region C in itsadjacent region.

The drip board 4 is a plate member as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2; itslower side drops toward the lower part of the fan compartment A, and itsupper end is constituted so as to rang abut nearly against the top plate2 in the state of the top plate 2 being mounted on the housing 1. Thisdrip board 4 may be easily installed by making use of the space abovethe heat exchanger 8 or fan guard 7, or detached for maintenance, and itcan be additionally installed depending on the conventional outdoorunit.

After mounting the outdoor unit on the outer wall beneath a window, topplate 2 is detached, and wiring 5 from the indoor unit (not shown) isdrawn into the wiring connection region C. Further this wiring 5 isconnected to the power source board 3 through penetration hole 13 in theupper part of the soundproof board 11. The pipe is connected to thepiping junction 10, and top plate 2 is put back finishing theinstallation work is over.

During use of this outdoor unit rainfall or water made by defrostingoperation in the heating mode may seep into the outdoor unit to condensedew. When this water deposits on the fan 6 and is scattered by rotationof the fan 6, and although this water is slightly affected by gravity orthe like, the water is scattered forcibly in the tangential directionnearly by the rotating direction b. According to the first embodiment,as shown in FIG. 2, if part of this water is scattered along the tangenta toward the power source board installation region D by the rotatingdirection b of fan 6, the water is shut off by the drip board 4 beforereaching the power source board installation region D. Accordingly,seepage of water into the power source board 3 is prevented withoutsealing in between the air passage forming the fan compartment A and thepower source board installation region D after connection of the wiring5.

A second embodiment of an outdoor unit of a separate type airconditioner of the invention is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIGS. 3, 4show the lower part of the inside of a housing 1 partitioned nearly intotwo compartments by a soundproof board 15, that is, a fan compartment Aaccommodating a fan 6 and other components, and a compressor compartmentB accommodating a compressor 9 and other components. The upper partinside the housing 1 includes a power source board 3 above fan 6, apiping junction 10 above the compressor 9, a communication port 16opened upward for passing the wiring 5 from a piping connection region Cto a power source board installation region D, and a detachable topplate 12 provided on the housing 1.

The top plate 12 is integrally provided with, as shown in FIG. 4, a dripboard 14 droping from top plate 12 and crossing the tangent from the fan6 toward the power source board installation region D, and a partitionboard 17 droping from top plate 12 corresponding to the communicationport 16 with its resin member 18 provided at the lower end thereof.Resin member 18 deforms to contact tightly with its shape correspondingto the opposite surface 19 of the communication port 16.

The drip board 14 has its upper end welded to the top plate 12 withoutgap, and its lower side is composed to drop toward the lower part of thefan compartment A with the top plate 12 mounted on the housing 1.

The partition board 17 has its upper end welded to the top plate 12without gap. At its lower end, a flexible silicone resin member 18containing a plasticizer is provided. After wiring to the power sourceboard 3, by mounting top plate 12 on housing 1, the silicone resinmember 18 is deformed to contact tightly with the opposite surface 19 ofthe communication port 16. The wiring 5 crossing the communication port16 is pinched against the opposite surface 19, thereby partitioningbetween the power source board installation region D and pipingconnection region C to seal the communication port 16.

The member provided at the lower end of this partition board 17 is notlimited to the above, and any other material may be used as far as ithas enough flexibility for deformation, adhesion to the opposite surface19 and necessary adhesion strength to the lower end of the partitionboard 17, and rubber member, for example, such as synthetic rubberscarcely containing hardener may be also used.

According to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the same actionas in the first embodiment is obtained without increasing the number ofparts. Or, when wiring from outside to the power source board 3 throughthe piping connection region C, as shown in FIG. 3, since there is nopartition board 17 in the communication port 16 for laying down thewiring 5, the wiring work may be done easily. Moreover, after wiring,only by mounting top plate 12 on housing 1, as shown in FIG. 4,communication port 16 can be sealed with the partition board 17.Accordingly, without any particular sealing job between the power sourceboard installation region D and piping connection region C, invasion ofwater from the piping connection region C through the communication port16 can be prevented.

As in the embodiment, when communication port 16 is set in the fullwidth of the power source board installation region D, the partitionwall between the power source board installation region D and the pipingconnection region C is eliminated in the wiring work, and it is morepreferable for connecting the wiring 5 to the power source board 3. Theinvention, however, is not limited to this, and the width of thecommunication port is enough as far as the wiring 5 can be fitted infrom above, and it is not necessary to pass the wiring 5 through thepenetration hole, and the working efficiency is enhanced.

Industrial Applicability

According to the outdoor unit of the separate type air conditioner ofthe invention, if the water seeping into the outdoor unit and depositingon the fan is scattered toward the power source board installationregion by the rotation of the fan, all of water scattering toward thepower source board installation region is on the tangent from the fantoward the power source installation region in the rotating directioncrossed by the drip board provided in the above position condition, andis shut off before reaching the power source board installation region.Therefore, without sealing the air passage between the power sourceboard installation region and the fan after wiring connection, seepageof water into the power source board can be prevented.

When the drip board is formed integrally with the top plate so as todrop from this top plate, the drip board can be installed withoutincreasing the number of parts and the number of assembling steps, andno gap is formed between the drip board and the top plate. Hence,caulking for filling up the gap is not necessary.

The constitution comprises a top plate detachably provided in the upperpart of the housing, a communication port opened upward for passingwiring from the housing internal adjacent region to the power sourceboard installation region, and a partition board formed integrally withthe top plate so as to droop from the top plate corresponding to thecommunication port and cut off by invading into the communication portfrom above, in which the partition board has a flexible resin member orrubber member contacting by deforming along the shape of the oppositesurface provided at its lower end. In this constitution, when drawing inthe wiring into the housing from outside, and connecting it to the powersource board installation region from its adjacent region, it is enoughby laying over both the power source board installation region and theadjacent region and fitting together from above into the communicationport opened upward, and the step of passing through a hole is notnecessary and hence the wiring work efficiency is enhanced. Moreover,after wiring, only by mounting the top plate, the flexible resin memberor rubber member provided at the lower end of the partition board formedintegrally with the top plate is deformed to contact tightly with theopposite surface across the wiring, and therefore invasion of water fromthe adjacent region through the communication port is prevented withoutdoing any particular sealing job, which is very convenient. Still more,when the communication port is set in the full width of the power sourceboard installation region, the partition wall between the two regions iseliminated in the wiring work, and it is more preferable for connectingthe wiring to the power source board.

We claim:
 1. A unit of separate type air conditioner comprising;a fanprovided in a housing, and a power source board positioned in an upperpart near said fan, wherein a drip board is provided between said fanand said power source board.
 2. A unit of separate type air conditionerof claim 1, wherein said drip board is formed integrally with a topplate so as to droop from said top plate.
 3. A unit of separate type airconditioner of claim 2, further comprising:a detachable top platemounted on said housing, a communication port for passing a wiring fromthe housing into the power source board, and a partition board formedintegrally with the top plate and, dropping from said top platecorresponding to the communication port to cut off by invading into saidcommunication port from above, wherein said partition board has aflexible resin member for contacting tightly with an opposite surfacealong its shape.
 4. A unit of separate type air conditioner of claim 1,further comprising;a detachable top plate mounted on said housing, acommunication port for passing a wiring from the housing into the powersource board, and a partition board formed integrally with the top plateand, dropping from said top plate corresponding to the communicationport to cut off by invading into said communication port from above,wherein said partition board has a flexible resin member for contactingtightly with an opposite surface along its shape.
 5. A unit of separatetype air conditioner, comprising:(a) a housing having a top plate, (b) afan positioned inside of said housing, (c) a power source boardpositioned inside of said housing, and near said fan, and (d) a dripboard positioned between said fan and said power source board.
 6. A unitof claim 5,wherein said drip board stops water scattered by rotation ofsaid fan, and prevents said water from being deposited on said powersource board.
 7. A unit of claim 5,wherein said power source board ispositioned at a distance above and near said fan.
 8. A unit of claim5,wherein a surface of said power source board is positioned oblique. 9.A unit of claim 5,wherein said drip board is positioned integrally withsaid top plate.
 10. A unit of claim 5,wherein said top plate isdetachable from said housing, said drip board is positioned integrallywith and drops from said top plate, said top plate is positioned betweensaid fan and said power source board.
 11. A unit of claim 5, furthercomprising:(e) an adjacent region having a wiring, positioned insidesaid housing, and (f) a partition board positioned between said adjacentregion and said power source board installation region.
 12. A unit ofclaim 5, further comprising:(e) an adjacent region having a wiring,positioned inside said housing, and (f) a partition board positionedbetween said adjacent region and said power source board installationregion, wherein said partition board is positioned integrally with saidtop plate.
 13. A unit of claim 5, further comprising:(e) an adjacentregion having a wiring, positioned inside said housing, and (f) apartition board positioned between said adjacent region and said powersource board installation region, wherein said drip board and saidpartition board are positioned integrally with said top plate.
 14. Aunit of claim 5, further comprising:(e) an adjacent region having awiring, positioned inside said housing, (f) a communication port formedbetween said adjacent region and said power source board installationregion, said wiring being installed through said communication port, and(g) a partition board positioned in said communication port, betweensaid adjacent region and said power source board installation region.15. A unit of claim 5, further comprising:(e) an adjacent region havinga wiring, positioned inside said housing, (f) a communication portformed between said adjacent region and said power source boardinstallation region, said wiring being disposed through saidcommunication port, and (g) a partition board positioned in saidcommunication port between said adjacent region and said power sourceboard installation region, said partition board is positioned integrallywith said top plate.
 16. A unit of claim 5, further comprising:(e) anadjacent region having a wiring, positioned inside said housing, (f) acommunication port formed between said adjacent region and said powersource board installation region, said wiring being positioned throughsaid communication port, and (g) a partition board positioned in saidcommunication port between said adjacent region and said power sourceboard installation region, wherein said drip board and said partitionboard are positioned integrally with said top plate.
 17. A unit of claim5, further comprising:(e) an adjacent region having a wiring, positionedinside said housing, (f) a communication port formed between saidadjacent region and said power source board installation region, saidwiring being installed through said communication port, and (g) apartition board positioned in said communication port between saidadjacent region and said power source board installation region, saidpartition board being positioned integrally with said top plate, and (h)a flexible member positioned at a lower end of the partition board, andis deformed to contact tightly with said communication port.
 18. A unitof claim 5, further comprising:(e) an adjacent region having a wiring,positioned inside said housing, (f) a communication port formed betweensaid adjacent region and said power source board installation region,said wiring being positioned through said communication port, and (g) apartition board positioned in said communication port between saidadjacent region and said power source board installation region, and (h)a flexible member positioned at a lower end of said partition board,wherein said drip board and said partition board are positionedintegrally with said top plate, and said drip board is positionedbetween said fan and said power source board, and said flexible memberis deformed to contact tightly with said communication port through saidwiring.